Method of and apparatus for paring fruit



June 24, 1930. w. A. FONKEN 1,766,496

IETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PARINQ FRUIT Filed Jan. 20. 1927 ENTER ,4 TTUR/VE Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. FONKEN, F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON METJOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PARING I 'BUIT Application filed January 80, 1927. Serial No. 182,278.

This invention relates generally to the fruit canning art, and particularly to a device for paring pears.

The first object of this invention is to construct a pear paring machine whereby pears may be quickly and efficiently pared in order that oxidation may be reduced to the minimum and that the pared fruit may remain as near as possible to their original condition, namely that the portions ofthe pear which would normally be worn off by handling would, by the use of this machine, remain sharp and the entire surface of the pear maintain its original light color.

The second object is to reduce the amount of waste ordinarily attending fruit paring operations and to increase the quality of the output by making every individual piece canned identical in size and shape with every other piece in the same can.

The third object is to provide a special form of holding means whereby the plain surface of a sliced pear is first held by Suetion against a face plate while being pared and then expelled by pressure to make room for the next pear to be pared.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the device showing a representative form of mechanism whereby the above-named objects can be accomplished. Figure 2 is a vertical section through the face plate for holding the fruit showing the paring operation being performed. Figure 3 is a plan of the face plate showing the relation of the paring knife to the face plate itself.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in order to illustrate the method and apparatus there is shown a face plate which is somewhat pear-shaped and is provided with a plurality of countersunk holes 11 which communicate with the interior of the body 12 to which the face plate 10 is attached by means of the screws 13.

The body is screwed onto a pipe 14 in A half pear is then placed with its out side which are the Ts 15 and 16. The T 15 is joined by a ipe 17 to the suction side ofa pump (not s own). The pipe 17 includes a valve 18 whose operating lever 19 is urged toward a closed position by the spring 20. The T 16 is connected by the pipe 21 to the pressure side of the pump (not shown). The pipe 21 includes a valve 22 whose operating lever 23 is urged toward a closed position by means of a spring 24.

In the frame 25 is mounted a rock shaf 26 on one end of which is mounted a knife 27 which is secured to the shaft by means of the screws 28. The knife 27 fits rather closely to the outer edge of the face plate 10.

On the shaft 26 is secured a pinion 29 which meshes with a rack 30 which is slidably moved by the connecting rod 31 on the worm wheel 32 which is driven from a worm 33 by any convenient power. On the shaft- 26 is asuction applying cam 34 which engages a roller 35 on the plunger 36 whose end engages the lever 19. On the shaft 26 is also a pressure applying cam 37 which engages a roller 38 on the plunger 39 whose end engages the lever 23.

The operation of the device is as follows. Pears are first graded for size and sliced longitudinally through the center into halves.

against the face plate 10. The rotation of the worm 33 causes the cam 34 to open the valve 18 which produces a suction within the body 12 and holds the half pear firmly against the plate 10.

I The knife 27 now starts its travel around the half pear just underneath its skin 40, completely removing same at one half revolution of the shaft 26. Pressure is now admitted to the body 12 causing the ared half pear to be removed from the ace plate while the knife 27 is being restored to its original position. Obviously, the'knife 27 can be two edged so that at one operation it pares from one side and at the next operation it pares from the other side, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

While in actual operation a machine for performing the work above described might embody many auxiliary parts to render commercial the use of the method and apparatus, only a suflicient number are herein illustrated to show its wor princl le.

I am aware that many orms 0 fruit parmg and holding devices have been constructed in the past; I therefore do not claim such devices broadl but I do intend to cover all such forms an modifications thereof as fall fairly within the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A method of paring fruit consisting of progressively cutting t e fruit to form a lane surface thereon; then holding the fruit y suction a ainst said plane surface; and then aring t e exposed s 'n from said fruit.

2. 3 method 'of paring fruit consisting of progressively cutting the fruit to form a lane surface thereon; then holdin the fruit y suction against said lane sur ace; then paring the expowd skin om said fruit; and then exerting pressure against the flattened side of said fruit for the purpose of releasing same from its holding means.

3. A method of aring fruit consisting of first halving said ruit; then holding same by -suction against its flattened surface in a manner that its skin shall be exposed and its edges shall slightly overhang its supporting surface; and then paring said fruit by means of a curved motion coaxial with said fruit in a movement startin and terminating below its supportin sur ace.

4. A paring machine aving a perforated face plate shaped similar to a cross section of the fruit to be pared and slightly smaller than said cross section, said late havin means for exhausting air from etween sai plate and fruit; and a curved knife rotataly mounted coaxial with said fruit supporting plate.

5. A aring machine having a flat perforated ruit engaging plate slightly smaller than the cross section of the fruit to be pared; means for exhausting air from between said plate and fruit placed thereon; a knife for paring said fruit while held on said plate; and means for forcing air between said fruit and plate.

6. A paring machine having a pear-shaped flat face plate; a supporting cup under said plate, said plate having holes therein comfruit to form a plane surface thereon; then holding said fruit while leaving its entire skinsurface free; and then the outer portion of said fruit while so he ding the iii thod f paring hich 9. e me o a pear w consists in splitting e r, then holding the split pieces in such ashion as to leave the entire skin surface free of the hol means, and paring 'the skin from the split piece by a single stroke of a cutti tool.

WILLIAM A. F0 KEN.

municating with said cup; means for exhausting air from said cup; means for in- 'ecting air into said on and a rotatable ife for paring half fruit while its flat side is held against said face plate by suction within said cu 7. A metho of paring fruit consisting of progressively cutting the fruit to form a lane surface thereon; then holding the ruit a inst said plane surface with its entire s '11 surface free; and then paring the skin from said fruit.

8. A method of preparing fruit for canning consisting of progressively cutting the 

